Jason to me today: Let’s take the boys sledding!

Me: No, no, no, no! I have way too much writing to do.

Jason: You’re a work-a-holic.

Me: NO. I’M. NOT!

Jason: Then go sledding with us!

Me (smug): Fine.

…I’m so glad we went, because the boys had a blast (and so did I!). Photos …



Is it January 22 already? Good heavens. This month is flying. I’ve been busy writing, revising my novel, blogging, mothering, cooking, running (more on that soon, and on Vitamin G), and a zillion other things I won’t bore you with. So, it hit me today that the first month of a new year is, now, almost gone. Wow. Just like that.

I love posting little snippets here on this blog, which I’ve started to think of as a scrapbook. How about that? A scrapbook that the world can see! And just because I don’t want to forget this wonderful month, here are a few little simple things and moments that I want to remember …



A publicist recently sent me a copy of Jamie Oliver’s new cookbook, Jamie’s Food Revolution, which I promptly took to bed that night and covered in sticky notes. Guys, this cookbook is, in a word: amazing. It’s packed with mouth-watering, approachable (and dare I say, healthful!) recipes that anyone can make. Best part: The book is loaded, and I mean loaded, with photos (which makes a cookbook so much more fun, right?).

Tonight I made Jamie’s “crunchy garlic chicken” and it was so, so, so good. I served it with basil couscous and sauteed asparagus (with lemon + mint–a bit random, but it worked (and you recall how much my 3 year old loves asparagus, right?). Let’s just say, everyone finished their plates–including the baby!



One of the great joys of motherhood? Why torturing your kids with the camera, of course! I’m constantly snapping their smiling (or growling) little faces, and I think they’re getting used to my new Canon and fancy new flash (thanks Santa!). Here’s a little photo series I snapped today when they were playing …



sushi-pillows

Have you seen these funny sushi pillows? They’re made of cotton, but they’re making me hungry!

So there I was today, out having sushi with my boys–who I should add, were very polite lunch dates–and as we enjoyed our little conveyor belt sushi lunch, I couldn’t help but overhear the wild spat between a woman and a man at the table next to ours, which went like this …



bread-loaf-2

Do you have any New Year’s Day traditions? I was just telling someone on the phone that I always feel sleepy and melancholic on New Year’s Day. Maybe that’s because I live in Seattle and it’s always, and I mean always, rainy and miserable on this day. It’s probably, also, because I drink champagne on New Year’s Eve, and everybody knows how they feel after a few glasses of champagne–even if it is in moderation. So, determined to do something uplifting and fun this year, I pulled out my new bread book and started baking. Let’s just say, after digging into the pages, I may never buy store-bought bread again …